The Waverley Paddle Steamer has cancelled its sailing for 28 September due to having broken a paddle whilst leaving Southampton for The Thames. It is recommended you either seek a refund or if you wish to experience The Waverley to make transfer booking for a date at your convenience. The walk will no longer be going ahead.
Welcome to Capital Walkers, the friendly London Ramblers group for people aged 40+. We walk every weekend and usually at least once during the week.
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Hike from Benfleet to Southend with the option of returning by train or The Waverley Paddle Steamer from Southend Pier to Tower Pier by The Tower of London/Tower Bridge.
This walk follows the coastal path with views of Canvey Island, Hadleigh Castle and the mile long Southend Pier as well as likely big skies from the Thames Estuary across to the North Sea. This is a flat walk with a late lunch in Leigh-on-Sea.
Drop out point - Leigh-on-Sea.
No booking required for the walk per se however if travelling back by boat advanced booking is required. See additional information below.
The finishing time is an estimate only and will be dependent on a number of factors, such as weather, the speed at which the group walks and the number of breaks taken.
NB The walk is estimated to finish at 4:30pm however if you are getting the paddle steamer that event ends at 10:25pm.
No dogs.
TRAVEL & BOOKING
Option 1
Travel by train to Benfleet Railway Station to join the walk and return from Southend Central Railway Station. Take the 12:00 train from London Fenchurch Street Station (West Ham 12:09), arrives Benfleet at 12:43. Buy a return train ticket to Southend.
Option 2***
Travel by train to Benfleet Railway Station to join the walk and spend time exploring Southend before catching the Paddle Steamer to Tower Pier, Tower Bridge. Tower Pier is a short distance from Tower Hill Underground and Tower Gateway (DLR) stations.
Take the 12:00 train from London Fenchurch Street (West Ham 12:09), arrives Benfleet 12:43.
Buy a ticket for the return journey from Southend Pier to Tower Pier (c £47) on the Waverley Paddle Steamer. Advanced booking is required for the single from Southend to Tower Pier. You are responsible for making your own booking. These are the contact details for booking:
https://waverleyexcursions.co.uk/book/
Telephone: 0141 243 2224
If you hold a ticket from last year you can swap it for this return trip by telephoning the number above.
The Waverley departs Southend Pier at 18:55 but you will need to be onboard no later than 18:40.
It is recommended that you arrive in plenty of time to watch the paddle steamer arrive which is well worth seeing with the paddles churning up the water as she comes alongside.
NB - Southend Pier is 1.33 miles (2.14 kilometres) long. You will need to give yourself a good fifteen to twenty minutes to walk to the end of the pier for boarding.
We arrive at Tower Pier at 22:25.
The initiative for this option is from Kirk who will be with the group.
“The paddle steamer with its paddles is especially interesting to see as are the triple expansion steam engines which turn the paddles and are open to view in the centre of the ship below decks. There is a spacious cafeteria and two bars on board.”
Kirk worked on a coal burning paddle steamer from 1974-1976; the Waverley was converted to oil burning.
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/book-search/title/ferries-across-humber/author/martin-kirk/
Kirk writes “I know it looks expensive, but there is a huge cost to running this old paddle steamer and it is well worth having a trip.”
Benfleet Railway Station
Southend Central Railway Station
